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AGRICULTURAL SERIES No. 9 



AGRICULTURAL SERIES No. 9 



UNITED STATES RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION UNITED STATES RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 

Monograph 



COLORADO -AN UNDEVELOP ED EMPIRE 



Messages from State Officials 






From the Governor 

Denver, Colorado 

The great State of Colorado has a vast, unoccupied, 
undeveloped territory — agricultural, stock, fruit and 
mineral — lands of great potential value, where ample 
opportunity awaits the industrious newcomer to make 
a home and acquire independence. 

In order, however, to bring about that so much de- 
sired condition, it is highly essential that every effort 
be made toward giving prospective settlers authentic 
information concerning these opportunities. This 
booklet has been prepared with that end in view and 
is submitted to the prospective home-maker as con- 
taining only reliable information. 

Therefore, it is essential that expert assistance be 
given the newcomer in order that he shall lose as little 
time and effort as possible and not take unnecessary 
chances in getting his new undertaking under way. 

To this end our School of Mines, Agricultural Col- 
lege, our Oil Department, our Mines and Stock De- 
partments and our State Immigration Department, 
are at the command of any and all desiring such advice 
and assistance. 

No other factor can be more effective in the work 
than the continued hearty co-operation of the State 
and the United States Railroad Administration, in 
obtaining and publishing the truth, and only the truth, 
regarding Colorado's opportunities. 



^p e^>^ V 



(OA 



CC^C<. 



Governor 



From the President of the State 
Agricultural College 

Fort Collins, Colorado 
The agricultural college through its Experiment 
Station and through its Extension Service is able to 
keep in the closest touch with farming conditions and 
farming development. Through the specialists of the 
Extension Service, agricultural agents, home demon- 
stration agents, and club leaders, it is possible to give 
personal consideration to the individual settler, and 
through the farm bureau, to bring to him the helpful 
co-operation of his neighbors. 

A cordial invitation is extended to the new settler 
to get in touch with the County Agricultural Agent, 
at once, the other extension workers in the county and 
the Extension Service at the State Agricultural Col- 
lege. Naturally, also, he should join the Farm Bu- 
reau without delay. 



The institution is vitally interested in the educational, 
civic and industrial development of Colorado and 
gladly co-operates with the United States Railroad 
Administration in giving information to prospective 
settlers on the agricultural, educational, and industrial 
resources of our State. 




From the State Commissioner of Immigration 

Denver, Colorado 
The importance of equipping the homeseeker and 
prospective investor with accurate data concerning 
the locality to which he hopes or expects to go cannot 
be overestimated, for it is only through the possession 
of such information that he can guide himself intelli- 
gently in the establishment of his home and the 
development of his work. 

Keen appreciation of this fact has induced this de- 
partment to work willingly with the representatives of 
the Agricultural Section of the United States Railroad 
Administration in the preparation of material dealing 
with Colorado. The truth about Colorado needs no 
embellishment by exaggeration; it is sufficient with- 
out that. 

The homeseeker in the West, if he is wise, will use 
every effort to acquaint himself with the soil and 
climatic conditions of the district into which he goes, 
and with the social, educational, religious, transpor- 
tation and market facilities which it has to offer. It 
is for the purpose of giving this sort of information 
truthfully and accurately that this department has 
assisted in the preparation and approves the material 
contained in this booklet. 

The Colorado State Board of Immigration is an 
active State organization for the promotion of the 
development and settlement of the State and for 
the guidance and protection of the newcomer. It 
has compiled a wide variety of data relative to the 
advantages of the State, its soil, climate, transporta- 
tion facilities, crop yields, and other matters of 
importance to the newcomer, and stands ready at all 
times to aid and encourage the settler in every way 
and to protect him from loss through unfortunate and 
unwise investments. 



Nf 



Of 

26 



1919 



,.^-^^^^^f^^ 



Commissioner 



U. S. RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




eblo. There are many mining and industrial cities in Colorado which furnish a ready market 
for farm produce, dairy and poultry products 



The Purpose of this Booklet — How the 
Railroads Can Help the Homemaker 



This booklet is issued by the Agricultural Section, 
Division of Traffic, of the United States Railroad 
Administration, J. L. Edwards, Manager, Washing- 
ton, D. C. 

The information was compiled by the Agricultural 
Representatives of the several railroads serving the 
State of Colorado, namely : 

Atchison, Topeka 8b Santa Fe C. L. Seagraves, Chicago, 111. 

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy J- B. Lamson, Chicago, III. 

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific . . Alexander Jackson, Chicago, 111. 

Colorado & Southern Earl G. Reed, Denver, Colo. 

Denver & Rio Grande W. H. Olin, Denver, Colo. 

Denver & Salt Lake F. J. Toner, Denver, Colo. 

Missouri Pacific Geo. K. Andrews, St. Louis, Mo. 

Rio Grande Junction W. H. Olin, Denver, Colo. 

Rio Grande Southern W. H. Olin, Denver, Colo. 

Union Pacific R. A. Smith, Omaha, Neb. 

The articles on the State's more important indus- 
tries and possibilities are contributed by recognized 
authorities. 

The purpose of the booklet is to help direct ambitious 
and industrious home-makers and producers, desiring 
to better their condition in life, to localities where 



they should meet with success in proportion to their 
resources and ability. 

Our mission is to help industrious men and women 
to become farm owners and to enable them to lay the 
foundation for a home and eventually independence 
for the family. 

Bear in mind that none of the railroads above 
mentioned have any interest in the sale of lands, nor 
are they engaged in the land business. 

All, however, are greatly interested in the develop- 
ment and general prosperity of the districts served by 
their respective Hnes. 

The interests of the railroads and the communities 
served by the lines are identical and interwoven. Pros- 
perous communities mean prosperous railroads. A 
well-satisfied settler is a good asset. A misplaced man 
is a liability. Our interest does not cease with the 
location of the settler. We are deeply interested in 
his success. We stand ready at all times to help the 
newcomer with his problems. Much valuable know- 
ledge of farm practices and opportunities has been 
gained by observation and experience which will prove 
helpful to farmers. This is available to all inquirers. 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




Denver and Pueblo are good markets for live stock, and their importance as live stock centers is rapidly increasing. 
Good railroad facilities put these markets within easy reach of every farmer 



The several Railroad Agricultural Representatives 
have for years made a careful study of conditions and 
keep in direct touch with their respective territories. 

Owing to limited space, detailed information is not 
attempted in this pamphlet, but should the reader 
desire any special information on any subject con- 
nected with any branch of farming or stock-raising in 
any locality in Colorado, it can be secured by writ- 
ing to or calling upon the agricultural repre- 
sentative whose name and address is stamped on 
the last page of this booklet. 

State fully just what is desired. Prompt and de- 
pendable information will be furnished. 

COLORADO 

Colorado has long been a leader in the production 
of golci and silver, and the State is still best known in 
other parts of the country as a mining state, although 
the value of the output of its farms today, including 
live stock, is more than three times that of its mines 
and quarries. 

The agricultural development of the State in the 
past few years has been very rapid. The total acreage 
devoted to seven of the principal crops in 1917 was 
approximately 1500% greater than forty years ago. 
The total acreage and yield of the principal crops in 
1917 was as follows. 



Crop Acreage Yield 

Alfalfa and native hay, tons. . 1,300,000 2,836,000 

Wheat, bushels 600,000 13,536,000 

Corn, bushels 532,000 10,640,000 

Rye, bushels 27,000 432,000 

Beans, bushels 193,000 1,467,000 

Oats, bushels 293,000 11,134,000 

Barley, bushels 168,000 5,544,000 

Sugar beets, tons 161,476 1,853,200 

Kafir, etc., bushels 88,000 1,320,000 

Potatoes, bushels 70,000 9,310,000 

Broom corn, tons 30,000 4,650 

Flaxseed, bushels 2,000 14,000 

Apples, bushels 2,640,000 

Peaches, bushels 1,200,000 

Pears, bushels 320,000 

The total acreage cultivated, in 1917, was 4,073,250 
acres. This is only 6.14% of the total area of the 
State. 

Being a mountainous State, a very large portion 
of the land is not suitable for the plow. There 
are, however, at the present time close to 20,000,000 
acres of arable land. At the present time it is safe to 
say that there are not more than 5,000,000 acres of 
this amount under cultivation. The possibilities for 
agricultural development are unexcelled. 

It is estimated that the population of the State, in 
1918, was 1,022,639. This makes about ten persons to 
the square mile as compared with more than thirty 



U. S. RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




The large number of days of sunshine, makes it possible to cure alfalfa hay of the best quality. On irrigated lands alfalfa yields range 

from two to five tons per acre. On the dry uplands of the Eastern part of the State, one to two tons are secured by 

growing alfalfa in rows under cultivation. Seed production on the dry lands is especially profitable 



persons to the square mile for the entire United States. 
Slightly more than half the total population live in the 
rural districts. 

It is a great live stock State; the value of domestic 
animals sold and slaughtered in 191 7 was approximately 
$100,000,000, which is about 300% greater than the 
value in 1909. 

Colorado has made rapid strides in agricultural 
development during the past twenty years. It is safe 
to say that the development during the next twenty 
years will surpass all past records. Land values are 
constantly increasing, and with 15,000,000 acres of 
tillable land, a considerable portion of which is subject 
to irrigation, yet unplowed, the future possibilities are 
enormous. 

The Rocky Mountains run through the middle of 
Colorado, north to south. This makes three natural 
divisions of the State: The Eastern, Intermountain, 
and Western Slope districts. Each division has dif- 
ferent crops, climate and methods of farming. For 
this reason each division is treated separately in this 
booklet. It tells the prospective settler what farm 
crops and farm practices have proven the most de- 
sirable and profitable for each of the three districts. 

Fertile Soil 

The soils are rich in mineral properties, having 
received the wash from the Rockies for centuries. In 



but few places has nature done so much soil blending, 
filling it with lime, phosphates, potash, iron, mag- 
nesium and sulphur ready for the farmer's use. The 
presence of iron in the soils and the sandstone accounts 
for the red color. 



The director of the U. S. Weather Bureau for Colo- 
rado has recently summarized the weather data under 
three divisions, covering all data on rainfall, tempera- 
tures, frost, humidity and wind velocity, for the 
number of years weather observations have been 
made. The average annual precipitation is from this 
summary and for the stations named in his records. 
These figures are found further in this booklet. 

The rainfall on the plains in the southeastern part 
of the State comes largely in the months from April 1st 
to October 1st. Seventy-five per cent of the annual 
amount falls during this period. The precipitation 
varies from twelve to more than twenty inches in the 
higher parts of the Arkansas-Platte Divide, near the 
center of the State, where the elevation is between 
6,000 to 7,000 feet. In these higher altitudes frost is 
fifteen days later in spring and fifteen days earlier in 
the fall than on the lower plains. Below 6,000 feet 
elevation, the last killing frost in spring occurs in the 
latter part of April and the first killing frost, about 
the middle of October. This gives to this portion of 
the Plains Region of the State, about five and a half 
months between frosts. 



COI>ORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




An eastern Colorado farm home showing Cottonwood trees five years old. 
Every dry-land farmer can have attractive home surroundings 



In the northeastern part of the State the amount of 
rainfall on the plains area decreases from east to west, 
until the foothill region is reached. Near the Kansas- 
Nebraska line in Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma, Kit Carson 
and the eastern parts of Logan, Washington and 
Lincoln counties, the average runs between seventeen 
and eighteen inches; in the vicinity of Greeley, Weld 
county, it is a little over twelve inches. On the higher 
lands of the Arkansas-Platte Divide of this division, 
the rainfall is heavier, nowhere ranging less than 
fifteen inches. Eighty per cent of the rainfall occurs 
from March to September, inclusive, while the snow- 
fall is light. Usually the growing season covers five 
months — from early May to corresponding date in 
October. 

In the western part of the State there is a uniformity 
of weather conditions from day to day. The precipi- 
tation in the principal agricultural districts is less than 
fifteen inches, and in certain districts like San Luis 
Park and lower Grand Valley runs less than ten inches. 
There is an increase with altitude until in the highest 
regions, where observations have been made, an annual 
mean precipitation of forty inches is indicated. Snow- 
fall in the lower valleys is light and remains but a short 
time. With increasing elevations the depth increases 
rapidly; near the mountain summits a total fall of more 
than twenty-five feet has occurred in a single season. 
The growing season interval between frosts varies 
greatly. In the lower Grand Valley it extends from 
the middle of April to the middle of October; above 
9,000 feet frost may be expected every month. The 



climate of the mountains cannot readily be summa- 
rized. The rainfall of the mountain regions depends 
largely on the elevation and exposure to rain-bearing 
winds, the latter being the leading factor. 

Sources of Larif 

There are four sources of obtaining land to which 
the homeseeker should turn his attention: 

(1) The subdivision or resale of land or farms al- 
ready improved or occupied. 

(2) The opening of new tracts of land by private 
parties or by Government Reclamation Service. 

(3) Homestead and desert entry of Government 
lands. 

(4) Purchase of State lands. 

((.'>; and Terni.^ 

Non-irrigated farm land suitable for general farming 
ranges in price from $15 to $50 an acre, and irrigated 
land for general farming, with a good water right, from 
$50 to $400 an acre. Terms are usually one-eighth to 
one-fourth down. The rest can be paid in such install- 
ments, at favorable rates of interest, as a diligent 
farmer can meet from his yearly farm returns. 

The State of Colorado owns approximately 3,000,- 
000 acres of land subject to sale or lease. These lands 
are sold at public auction to the highest bidder and 
payment is made on the basis of ten per cent in cash 



U. S. RAIT. ROAD ADMINISTRATION 




A typical forest reserve scene showing the possibihty for building and fuel supplies in the nearby mountains. 
Settlers near the forest range may also secure grazing permits from the government at very low cost 



at the time of sale, and the balance in eighteen equal 
annual payments, with interest at the rate of six per 
cent. Applications for the sale of specific tracts are 
made to the State Board of Land Commissioners at 
Denver, which administers all State land. 



There is still available Government land in Colorado 
open to entry, but prospective settlers on Govern- 
ment land must remember that the best lands, close to 
railroads, were taken long ago. To get good Govern- 
ment land today, one must go to districts many miles 
from transportation, cities and towns. 

There are ten United States land districts in the 
State, with headquarters in the following cities: Del 
Norte, Denver, Durango, Glenwood Springs, Hugo, 
Leadville, Lamar, Montrose, Pueblo, and Sterling. 
Each office furnishes information relative to unoccu- 
pied tracts open for entry. 



There are seventeen National Forests which lie 
wholly, and two more partly, within Colorado. Most 
of these National Forests, which have a combined 
total area of thirteen and one-quarter million acres, 
are within the Intermountain Region. Free use of 
timber is granted to bona fide settlers, schools, churches 
and non-commercial organizations for improvements 
of mutual or public benefit. Live and dead timber 



which may be cut without injury to the forest, is sold 
to settlers at the actual cost of administering such 
sales. 

The National Forests also contain a large amount 
of excellent summer grazing lands, and farmers and 
stockmen are given every encouragement to make the 
fullest use of these ranges. Grazing seasons are fixed 
on each Forest to fit local conditions, and fees are 
determined upon an equitable basis. Information on 
these matters may be obtained from local Forest 
officials. In 1918 grazing permits were issued to 5,600 
permittees for a total of 1,519,859 cattle and sheep, 
over 60% of the permittees grazing less than 100 each. 

The National Forests are administered by the 
Secretary of Agriculture through the Forester of the 
United States Forest Service. His regulations are 
published in what is known as the "Use Book," copies 
of which may be obtained on application to the Dis- 
trict Forester, Federal Building, Denver. 

The resources of the National Forests — the timber, 
grass, water power and outdoor life features, such as 
camping, fishing and hunting — are for the use of all 
citizens. One can readily see the advantages to the 
settler and stockmen of proximity to the National 
Forests for grazing privileges and fence posts, lumber 
and firewood for home use. The Government is also 
entering into extensive program of road and trail con- 
struction in the Forests, which is almost of inestimable 
value to the homesteader and mountain rancher. 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




The church, school and social facilities of the state are 

excellent. In many communities children are 

taken to and from school free of 

charge in motor busses 

Live Stock the Basis of Colorado FarmiriE; 

The greatest agricultural resource in Colorado 
since the settlement of the State has been her live 
stock. Certain sections are especially adapted to the 
dairy and hog industry, other sections can emphasize 
poultry, still other districts develop the sheep industry 
with profit. In other districts beef cattle are produced. 

The cities, towns and mining camps give markets 
for cured meats, poultry and dairy products, while the 
stock yards of Denver and Pueblo afford an all-year 
market for hogs, sheep and cattle. There were received 
in Denver, in 1918, from all contiguous territory, 
including Colorado, 728,268 cattle— 1,651,759 sheep, 
383,543 hogs, 14,599 horses and mules — a total of 
34,119 carloads. Car lots of Colorado live stock also 
find their way to Missouri River points and Chicago. 
The National Western Stock Show, held in Denver 
each January, has become one of the great stock 
shows of the country. It stimulates the cattle, sheep 
and hog industry throughout the Intermountain 
States. 

Some type of live stock should be kept on every 
farm. This gives a profitable home market for all cheap 
and bulky feeds grown on the farm, and insures a 
fertilizer of known value. 

Schools, Churches and Community Centers 

There are more than seventy-five consolidated 
schools in Colorado, and while that is not a large 



A community clubhouse for Colorado farmers. Business 

and educational meetings are held in these buildings 

and they are also the center of social activities 

in farming communities 

number when compared with the record of several 
other states, still credit may be claimed for some of 
the best and most complete consolidated schools that 
may be found anywhere. Last year more than 10,000 
children attended modern consolidated schools, in 
beautiful, modern and well-equipped buildings, with 
trained and experienced teachers and most of the 
other things it takes to make a good school. And, 
best of all, 1,100 of these children attended country 
high schools made possible by consolidation. The 
modern auto bus, that will accommodate thirty, thirty- 
five and even forty children, makes consolidation 
possible over large areas and many country children 
are now riding ten, fifteen and some even twenty 
miles to schools. 

In these schools the regular subjects are taught with 
a degree of efficiency comparable with city schools, 
while many of them offer courses in agriculture, and 
shop work for the boys, and home-making for the 
girls. The school and church facilities are ample in all 
parts of the State. 

Transportation and Markets 

Farm success depends upon production, transpor- 
tation and market distribution. Five trunk transpor- 
tation lines: Chicago, Burlington 86 Quincy; Missouri 
Pacific; Chicago, Rock Island 86 Pacific; Atchison, 
Topeka 8b Santa Fe, and Union Pacific railroads, con- 
nect the foothill cities of the Eastern Slope of the 



U. S. RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




Marketing wheat 



this way is common in Eastern Colorado. The roads are good and heavy 
loads can be hauled at any time of the year 



Rocky Mountains with the markets of Omaha, St. Joe, 
Kansas City, Chicago, and the Mississippi Valley 
trade centers. 

The Denver 8b Salt Lake Railroad connects north- 
west Colorado with Denver -and these trunk lines. The 
Denver 8e Rio Grande Railroad connects Intermoun- 
tain and Western Slope and southwestern Colorado 
with the foothill cities of Pueblo, Colorado Springs 
and Denver, as well as these trunk lines to eastern 
markets. The Colorado 85 Southern Railroad connects 
the foothill cities of the Eastern Slope with northern 
and southern markets. 

Within the State are mines of coal and precious 
metals; quarries of marble, granite and other building 
stones; smelters and coke ovens that give employ- 
ment to many who must be fed. The power develop- 
ment from mountain streams and the great quantities 
of Colorado coal have attracted manufactures of im- 
portance and the number of workmen employed by 
these manufacturing plants is increasing year by 
year. These all depend upon the Colorado farm for 
food commodities. 

Eastern Colorado, except in occasional instances, 
is well supplied with railroad and highway transpor- 
tation facilities. Along the western boundary of the 
district, adjacent to the foothills, it is traversed from 
north to south by the Denver 8e Rio Grande, Colorado 
8b Southern, and Atchison, Topeka 8b Santa Fe rail- 
roads and the Union Pacific, Burlington, Rock Island, 



Missouri Pacific, and Atchison, Topeka 8b Santa Fe 
railroads cross the entire eastern half of the State on 
their way to western terminals. Numerous branch 
lines afford transportation for the productive districts 
located at a distance from the main lines. 

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent 
by the State and counties in the maintenance of ade- 
quate highways for the farmer, and it is probable that 
few districts of such tremendous area are so well sup- 
plied with roads for all purposes. With the moderate 
rainfall which prevails through eastern Colorado the 
highways are almost universally good at all seasons 
of the year. Motor trucks are rapidly coming into 
favor for marketing farm produce. 



There are 48,000 miles of all classes of roads in the 
State, connecting the farms and shipping points, also 
connecting the main cities and county seats, one with 
the other. 

About eighty per cent of this mileage is in the plains 
and valleys, and about sixty per cent of the total 
mileage is east of the foothills, serving the farming 
sections in the eastern part of the State. 

New roads are being opened each year by the several 
counties for the accommodation of the farmers. 

At this time the road mileage is 16,000 miles more 
than in 1913, an average annual increase of more 
than 3,000 miles, which is all in the farming sections, 
and for the service and convenience of the farmers. 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 





The Colorado farmer does not depend solely upon one crop. Tlie farm producing a diversity of crops makes the highest average 
income. Wheat and corn are leading crops in Eastern Colorado 



With three-fourths of her agricultural land unde- 
veloped, Colorado's greatest present need is more farm 
homes, more tillers for her fertile lands. In this State, 
where miner, manufacturer, tourist and city dweller 
depend upon the farm for good things to eat, the 
person who comes to establish a farm home will receive 
a hearty welcome. 

^TFRN rni oRAno 

The eastern section of the State, consisting of the 
twenty-seven counties lying east of Larimer County 
on the north to Huerfano County on the south, is one 
of the most widely varied districts of the State from 
the standpoints of topography, climatic conditions 
and industries. In it are hundreds of thousands of 
acres of irrigated lands, intensively cultivated, and 
millions of acres of non-irrigated land capable of suc- 
cessful cultivation under known dry-farming methods. 
The western part of this division extends to and 
includes the foothill regions on the Eastern Slope of the 
Rocky Mountains. Commencing at the foothills, and 
extending eastward for many miles along the larger 
streams of eastern Colorado, lie the irrigated valleys, 
and between these streams are vast stretches of graz- 
ing and dry-farm lands. 

The twenty-seven counties contain a total of 3 1,534, - 
080 acres. Of this total 17,397,279 acres are patented 
land, 9,186,001 acres being classed as grazing land and 



the remainder being classified as coal, timber, min- 
eral, agricultural lands, etc. The district includes 
2,174,872 acres of State land subject to sale or lease, 
and 1 ,444,474 acres of National Forests, National Parks 
and Monuments. There is included also 735,358 acres 
of Government land open to homestead entry, but as 
the district has been settled for many years and the 
available public lands carefully searched, it may be 
said that only occasional tillable tracts of this Govern- 
ment land can be found within reasonable distance of 
railroads and markets, and that most of the available 
lands, with the possible exception of foothill tracts, 
have been searched and discarded by settlers in the 
past. 

The growth and development of eastern Colorado 
during the past few years has been tremendous. Due 
to the necessity for food production during the war, 
large areas of virgin land were plowed and planted to 
beans, potatoes, wheat and corn. It is estimated that 
Eastern Colorado has increased the amount of land 
under tillage more than 20% since the spring of 1917. 
Yet it is safe to say that nearly 70% of the tillable 
lands have never been plowed. Land values have 
increased rapidly. In many sections lands are now 
worth many times the value a few years ago. Pros- 
pects for settlement during the present year are the 
brightest on record. 

The climate of eastern Colorado varies largely, 
owing to the varying latitudes and altitudes, and to 
the proximity to the mountains. In the foothill 



U. S. RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




Pinto beans are an important crop on dry lands of Eastern Colorado and fit in well with crop rotation. Yields of 200 to 400 lbs. an 
acre are commonly secured. The growing of these beans prepares the land for winter wheat 



valleys there are many protected areas where trees 
and small fruits do splendidly and as a rule the dis- 
tricts adjacent to the mountains are afforded pro- 
tection from the more rigorous winter winds. The 
annual rainfall varies fromlO to 20 inches in the larger 
part of the district. Some of the foothill counties have 
more than 20 inches. 



This district is one of the most progressive sections 
of the West. Sixteen of its counties now have the 
services of competent county agricultural agents, who, 
with the aid of home demonstrators, have organized 
farm bureaus and boys' and girls' clubs and have fos- 
tered and developed scientific farming and the com- 
munity spirit to an encouraging degree. In almost 
every section of eastern Colorado there are many 
progressive farm organizations working unitedly for 
better living conditions and the improvement of farm 
methods. The influence of these organizations has 
been proved in the last few years by the more intelli- 
gent cultivation of farm lands, the improvement of live 
stock and the evident development of community 
spirit. 

The exceptional educational facilities offered in all 
parts of eastern Colorado have occasioned no little 
surprise among newcomers in the district. The schools 
may almost be said to be in advance of the require- 



ments of population, but the people of this district 
long since recognized the importance of education, 
and, inspired by the extension departments of the 
State educational institutions, have made wonderful 
progress in this respect. They have at their command 
at all times the hearty support of the State University, 
the State Agricultural College and the State Teachers' 
College, all of which have made a special study of 
rural school problems and have aided materially in 
enabling comparatively isolated districts to have ade- 
quate educational facilities. Numerous consolidated 
schools have been built throughout the eastern section, 
offering advantages which cannot be excelled. 

Eastern Colorado, the Gateway 

One of the greatest recreational regions in the United 
States is reached through eastern Colorado. The 
Mountain Parks and National Forests offer unrivaled 
opportunities for the summer's outing and it may be 
said without exaggeration that the proximity of the 
mountains and their recreational advantages adds 
materially to the pleasure of living in eastern Colorado. 
Motor travel through eastern Colorado to the moun- 
tains is very heavy during the summer months. Many 
tourists investigate eastern Colorado lands in this way. 

Industries 

Agriculture and the manufactories which are allied 
with it unquestionably furnish the chief industries of 



CO-LORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




The dry farm home in Eastern Colorado is made attractive by the growing of trees and a windmill and small storage reservoir 
provide irrigation water for the garden. This is not expensive, and adds much to the attractiveness of the home surroundings 



this section. Hundreds of important manufacturing 
institutions, dealing with the raw products of the 
farms, have sprung up along the railroads in this 
district which contains the most important sugar 
beet areas of the West and many of the most highly 
developed dairy districts. 

The sugar beet industry has given employment to 
thousands of men and women, has provided feed for 
stock during the winter months and has added tremen- 
dously to the value of farm lands in the irrigated areas. 
The dairy industry, providing a cash market for but- 
ter fat, has brought prosperity to many sections and 
has given impetus to the establishment of several large 
condenseries, which supply the world's markets. 

Alfalfa meal mills have provided a cash market for 
this crop and throughout the irrigated section canning 
plants, operated by some of the largest companies in 
the world, have encouraged the intensive cultivation 
of lands suitable to canning crops, and have doubled 
and trebled the value of the lands close by. 

Stock-raising and winter-feeding are among the 
most important of the agricultural industries. Graz- 
ing is possible on some of the unoccupied sections of 
the Plains Region and in the National Forests ad- 
jacent to the foothills, and thousands of cattle and 
lambs are fattened each winter on silage, hay and 
other crops, and the by-products of the sugar factories. 

From Wyoming to New Mexico, along the foothills, 
runs a vast stretch of coal-bearing lands, which has 



made coal mining one of the most important indus- 
tries of this region. At Pueblo, close to inexhaustible 
supplies of coal, is located one of the largest steel mills 
in the West, furnishing a market for the ores lying in 
the hills and mountain regions. 

Resources and Opportunities 

The undeveloped resources of eastern Colorado 
challenge the imagination. Dry-farming, once con- 
sidered a hazardous occupation, is fast becoming an 
exact science, subject to misfortune only under the 
most exceptional climatic conditions. Rural mail 
deliveries, telephones and the automobile have robbed 
isolation of its discomforts, and the silo, the dairy cow 
and the conservation of moisture have demonstrated 
the possibilities of successful dry-farming. 

Low-priced lands, no longer to be had in the Cen- 
tral or Eastern States, are available in this district. In 
the irrigated valleys prices range from $75 to $300 an 
acre or more, depending upon soil, improvements and 
proximity to markets, but hundreds of thousands of 
acres in the non-irrigated district may yet be pur- 
chased at prices ranging from $15 to $50 an acre, and 
by intelligent farming may be made to yield a splendid 
return on the investment. The development of manu- 
factories using the raw product of the farms is also 
comparatively in its infancy. 

This State, through all its educational and develop- 
ment agencies, stands ready to assist the settler in 



U. S. RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




One of Colorado's modern sugar beet factories. There are sixteen sugar factories in the State. The raising of beets has greatly 
increased the value of irrigated lands, and added largely to the general prosperity of the communities in which they are grown 



every way, and to give him the benefit of the experi- 
-ence of those who have given their hves to the study 
of the problems of dry-farming. The land is reasonable 
in price, transportation facilities are adequate, cli- 
matic advantages are excellent and community de- 
velopment is progressing wonderfully. The eastern 
section is just beginning to know its own possibilities, 
and it is freely predicted by those who are familiar 
with its history that the next ten years will constitute 
a period of growth, development and prosperity un- 
surpassed in the history of the State. 

Types of Agriculture 
Agriculture in eastern Colorado is of three types: 
irrigated, so-called dry-land farming, and grazing. 
Often two, and sometimes all of these methods are 
combined on one farm or ranch, but each is adapted 
for certain conditions of topography, rainfall and soil. 
Only limited areas can be irrigated, and not all of the 
region can be profitably dry-farmed, but there is very 
little land that is not more or less valuable for grazing 
purposes. 

Irrigated Farminsj 

Irrigation in the Plains Region is principally con- 
fined to the valleys of the Arkansas, South Platte and 
their tributaries. The irrigated areas in the South 
Platte Valley are in Larimer, Weld, Morgan, Logan 
and Adams counties. In the Arkansas Valley there are 
irrigated lands in Fremont, Pueblo, Otero, Bent, Prow- 
ers, El Paso, Lincoln, Cheyenne, Crowley and Kiowa 



counties. Except in the few instances where the water 
supply is obtained by pumping, it is taken from streams 
and either run directly on to the land through systems 
of canals, or is stored in reservoirs, and later turned 
into the canals when needed. Hence, only such land 
can be watered from the streams and reservoirs as will 
permit of the carrying of water to it by gravity. There 
is some land remaining in the region which can be 
rendered irrigable, and although that already under 
irrigation is highly developed, and brings big prices, a 
settler who has sufficient capital can find irrigated land 
which can be bought at attractive prices. Few lands 
are more productive than the irrigated portions of 
eastern Colorado. 

Sugar Beets 

The sugar beet industry of the irrigated valleys is 
the largest agricultural industry of the State in point 
of value of the manufactured product. Beets, coupled 
with alfalfa and manure for the renewal of the soil, 
have increased the population of the irrigated regions, 
raised the value of the land, and widened the areas of 
cultivation. One acre of beets, properly cared for, will 
yield from twelve to thirty tons. Colorado beets have 
an exceptionally high sugar content. Besides this, the 
farmer gets the tops and a share of the by-product 
pulp for feeding. 

Alfalfa and Alfalfa Seed 

The main crop of the irrigated region is alfalfa. 
There are also many districts, where the water table is 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




Cantaloupe production in the Arkansas Valley of Colorado is one of the leading industries. This section is known througho 
the United States as the home of the Rocky Ford melon 



near the surface, which produce splendid crops of 
alfalfa, without irrigation. It not only is the principal 
hay crop for all live stock, but also is an important 
factor in maintaining the fertility of the soil. The 
practice in most irrigated sections is to keep one- 
fourth of the farm in alfalfa, rotating periodically with 
the other crops in order to maintain or build up soil 
fertility. The alfalfa crop, as all legumes, takes the 
nitrogen out of the air and stores it in the soil for the 
use of other crops. Besides the nitrogen which is stored 
in the soil, the large root system of the alfalfa plant 
loosens up the soil and leaves an abundance of humus 
to improve the soil condition. Alfalfa usually gives 
three cuttings of hay per season, except when seed is 
raised, then only one cutting of hay is taken. The 
average yield of hay is from three to four tons per 
acre, worth in recent years from $10 to $18 per ton 
in the stack. There is also a good market for alfalfa 
seed. Colorado has only been able to supply about 
one-fourth of the local demand for alfalfa seed. 

Wheat, Oats and Barley 

Wheat yields from 35 to 60 bushels per acre under 
irrigation. Oats produce from 40 to 100 bushels per 
acre, barley yields as high as 90 bushels. 

Melons 

These are a great crop, especially in the Arkansas 
Valley. Rocky Ford melons are famous the world over. 
The Arkansas Valley, from Ordway to Rocky Ford, 



has just that type of sandy loam soil which, in the pre- 
vailing climate, under irrigation, feeds flavor to can- 
taloupes, producing very high quality. It has also 
been found that the seed grown in these districts is 
superior to that produced elsewhere. This is the reason 
twelve to fifteen other states producing the Rocky 
Ford types of cantaloupes, commercially, come to this 
district for their seed stocks. 



Apples are successfully grown in nearly all of the 
eastern section. The Arkansas Valley has gained great 
fame in the production of apples. The cherry is another 
profitable fruit and many canneries have been estab- 
lished. Pears and peaches do well, and other fruits, 
such as strawberries, dewberries, blackberries, rasp- 
berries, currants and gooseberries, are extensively 
raised. 

Vegetables 

Vegetable raising, especially for canning, is a growing 
industry. Colorado potatoes and canned peas are 
known the country over. 

Colorado celery is unsurpassed. The soil and cli- 
matic conditions give it a brittleness which enables it 
to command the top market price. 

Live Stock 

The irrigated regions of Colorado have become great 
live stock feeding centers — because of the abundance 



U . S . R A I L R O AD ADMINISTRATION 




Dairying is a safe business on the farm. Returns on dairy cow investments are quick, sure and large. 
Market the rough feeds in the form of milk. Here are ten Holstein daughters of one good sire 



of good feed, and the mild, open winters. Thousands 
of cattle and sheep, produced on the ranges, are driven 
into the irrigated sections where alfalfa, beet pulp, 
beet tops, grain and silage are produced in abundance 
every year. In these regions feeders are always sure 
of an abundance of good feed for their feeding opera- 
tions. Farm experiences, covering more than forty 
years, confirmed by the Colorado Experiment Station 
demonstrations, show that feeding the hay on the 
farm more than doubles its cash value to the farmer. 

Dairying 

The dairy cow is fast becoming recognized as one 
of the greatest profit makers on irrigated lands. First- 
class dairy cows are being imported from other dairy 
regions. The State already has 75 creameries, 5 con- 
denseries, 13 cheese factories, 45 ice cream plants and 
hundreds of cream stations. Farmers are learning 
that, by feeding their crops to the dairy cow, they can 
make large profits. In many districts in eastern 
Colorado, dairying not only is the most profitable, but 
also the safest business. 



THE ARKANSAS VALLE i 

The Arkansas Valley begins at Canon City and 
extends eastward to the Kansas line. The altitude of 
the valley at Canon City is 5,343 feet, and at the 
State border 3,500 feet. Thisvalleyincludes, from west 
to east, the counties of Fremont, Pueblo, Otero, Bent, 



Prowers, El Paso, Lincoln, Cheyenne, Crowley and 
Kiowa. 

Practically all Arkansas Valley farmers agree that 
alfalfa is the basis of their crop success. Three cut- 
tings per season can always be counted on and some- 
times a fourth is obtained. Three to four tons is the 
usual yield. While a large amount of alfalfa is fed 
to fattening lambs and steers, several alfalfa mills 
grind many thousand tons and ship out as alfalfa 
meal. The production of alfalfa seed has reached com- 
mercial importance. 

These irrigated valley farms have a great diversity 
of crops. Several large sugar factories encourage beet 
production; for many years flouring mills have en- 
couraged increasing acreages of fall wheat; canning 
factories in many localities call for vegetables for can- 
ning; milk condenseries and creameries urge bringing 
in of good dairy cows; these require the growing of 
corn and other feed crops for silage and grain feeds to 
supplement alfalfa hay. Hogs are an asset, found on 
many farms, and poultry is on every farm. Special seed 
crops have been found profitable in certain districts of 
the valley, and are grown in commercial quantities. 
Special types of cantaloupes and watermelons go 
from certain districts by the train load to eastern 
markets. 

The rotation of crops has been reduced to a science 
on most Arkansas Valley farms. Farmers' experience 
demonstrates that general farming on irrigated land 



15 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




Large yields ot forage crops, healthful climatic conditions and plenty of fresh water make possible the production of pork 
on a large scale. Every farm should have enough hogs to utilize the wastes and supply the winter meat 



should include one cash crop, one cultivated crop, one 
legume crop and one live stock or feeding crop. 

Irrigated farms sell for $75 to $300 an acre, accord- 
ing to distance from the railroad, and the farm im- 
provements. 

THE SOUTHIPLATTE RIVER^VALLEY 

The valley of the South Platte River and its tribu- 
taries cover a large irrigated area comprising Larimer, 
Weld, Morgan, Logan and Adams counties. Northern 
Colorado has a most complete system for impounding 
water for irrigation. This district has over one hun- 
dred reservoirs, each with an average capacity of 
1,000,000 cubic feet of water. There are also several 
hundred smaller reservoirs in this district. About one 
million acres of cultivated land are under irrigation in 
this area, comprising practically one-fourth of the 
entire irrigated land in the State. 

This valley is known for its enormous production of 
all kinds of cash crops, as well as live stock. The 
leading crops are beets, potatoes, beans, wheat, and 
alfalfa. Nine sugar factories call for a large sugar 
beet acreage; nearly as many canneries call for 
a considerable acreage of peas, sweet corn, toma- 
toes and other canning vegetables; flour mills encour- 
age small grain production; and in the Greeley 
section of the valley is found the largest potato dis- 
trict of the State. This gives a great diversity of crops 
that enhances the value of the valley as a farming 
section. 



At the 1919 Western Stock Show, at Denver, the 
champion carload of hogs came from this valley. This 
speaks for good blood, good feeding and good care. 
As an example, Johnstown, which is an inland town, is 
becoming widely known for its intensive dairy farming. 
Their local annual Dairy Show in exhibit, attendance 
and interest exceeds many state fairs. The daily 
receipts of the condensery of this town average 23,000 
pounds of milk delivered by approximately 175 farmers. 
According to records of the condensery the 175 farmers 
milk about 8,000 cows. The total returns from these 
cows is over $250,000 annually. There are a number 
of other communities in this valley that are develop- 
ing the dairy industry on the same basis. 

There is a large area of alfalfa grown in the South 
Platte Valley and practically all of it is fed upon the 
farm to fattening lambs and steers. This gives the 
farm added value through the barnyard manure that 
goes back to enrich its soil and make it more pro- 
ductive. 

Irrigated farms may be purchased for $75 to $300 
an acre and up. There are raw lands, at present un- 
irrigated, for which there iswater to put them "under the 
ditch." These now await development by the settler. 

DRY-LAND FARMING IN EASTERN 
COLORADO 

The dry-land farms of eastern Colorado offer desir- 
able opportunities to the homeseeker. In fact, with 



16 



U. S. RAILROAD ADM I N I S T R A T I O N 




cd i,uin ,11 uiy-laiiJ ociiuno i^t Culu.cJ.^. i K<= njm=. oic mijic Liiaii uiic mile luflg. NuLC ihc <=«.,.cllciii. Lilih. 

This is an important crop in this district. The soil in these sections is very fertile and easily handled 



improved methods of tillage, and a change from the 
old idea of raising only cash crops, dry-land farming 
has been made more certain and safe. The old grazing 
lands of the past have for the most part been turned 
into prosperous farmsteads, and the possibilities of the 
region have been too well demonstrated to consider 
farming without irrigation an experiment. Where 
once it took 640 acres to support twenty head of 
cattle on a yearly basis under the old regime of grazing, 
320-acre units, devoted to forage and cash crops, now 
furnish comfortable and prosperous homes for thousands 
of families. 

To practice successful dry-land farming is not 
difficult. It is merely adapting yourself to the con- 
ditions to be met — rainfall, soil and length of growing 
seasons. While the annual rainfall is limited, sufficient 
moisture can be stored by thorough cultivation at the 
proper time of the year to produce an abundance of 
forage crops and such cash crops as beans, potatoes, 
wheat and rye every year. This will assure the settler 
sufficient feed to carry on his live stock operations, 
which should be the basis of his business, and some 
returns from cash crops. 

Those having had years of experience in dry-land 
farming, recommend that from twenty to forty acres 
should be summer-tilled on each farm every year. 
Summer-tilling means to cultivate throughout the 
entire season without cropping, thereby storing up 
two years of rainfall for the production of one crop. A 



large yield of grain or forage crops can usually be 
secured every year by this method. 

In addition to this summer-tilled ground, the settler 
should carefully cultivate, under the best known dry- 
land method, as much more as he can take care of. 
The degree of the settler's success with dry-land 
farming depends almost entirely on the extent that he 
can adapt himself to the methods found most success- 
ful by those who have had years of experience in that 
particular community. 

).st of Gettinp- Started 

One should have at least a sufficient amount to make 
the first payment on land, provide the farm with 
house, barn, water for domestic and stock uses, 
work stock, a few cows, pigs, chickens and implements 
for effective work. He should have left a sufficient gum 
to feed and clothe the family until a crop can be grown, 
harvested and marketed. This amount will vary with 
cost of material, the character and amount of improve- 
ments made, size of the family and the individual 
farmer. It is believed that to get safely started, the 
prospective settler should have from $1,500 to $2,500 
capital after the first payment is made on the purchase 
price of his land. Success has been achieved by many 
new settlers with less capital than this. To a very 
great extent final success depends upon the individual. 

The dry-farm unit must be of sufficient size to grow 
feed crops for live stock and also afford an area for 



AP OF COLORAD 







CQLORADQ-AN UND EVE LOPED EMPIRE 




A pit silo in Eastern Colorado. Dry-land sccluas are well adapted to the construction of the pit silo and it may be built without 
expert labor at very little cost. It is a good insurance policy for the dry-land farmer 



pasture. At least 160 acres is needed, and 320 is better, 
with success more certain. General farming under 
irrigation requires at least forty acres, while eighty 
acres, or more, gives a better chance for growing feed 
crops for some live stock as well as cash crops. Ten 
acres is too small a unit, save in the vicinity of cities 
and towns, where a local market justifies intensive gar- 
den farming. A fruit farm should have at least ten 
acres of fruit to be profitable, and sufficient additional 
area to grow feed crops to maintain at least a family 
cow, a fiock of poultry and a few hogs. 

>;tock a Necessi; 
The settler who farms without live stock is extremely 
likely to fail. On the other hand, the man who gets a 
few cows and other live stock, increasing the number 
as his capital and available feed permits, is almost sure 
to succeed, for he has a living assured. There is seldom 
a year when good yields of forage crops such as milo 
maize, millet, cane, etc., cannot be produced, and with 
proper silo capacity to store the surplus of years of 
plenty for times of drouth, the settler's position is 
made secure. 

No dry-land farm is complete without a poultry 
flock. Living costs can be greatly lowered by a few 
hens. Turkeys thrive, and there is always a ready 
market for poultry. 



Experience has shown that the most successful 
farmers in eastern Colorado have used dairying as a 
basis of their success. On every dry-land farm there 
should be at least four to six good milch cows 
and sufficient feed, in the form of silage or dry forage. 
Four to six cows will keep a family in groceries and pay 
interest. The returns from dairy cows will not be 
endangered by drouth, hail or frost, and the cream 
check comes in regularly every week. 



Nearly the whole territory is adapted to the con- 
struction of pit silos. These are very inexpensive and 
can be put down by any farmer. Silage has been 
carried over in perfect condition in such silos for a 
period of several years. These silos insure succulent 
food for the dairy cows and other farm animals 
throughout the winter, and in times of short pasture. 
A silo with live stock makes dry farming safe. 

Cash Crops 

Beans, wheat, potatoes and rye are successfully 
raised on the dry lands of eastern Colorado, and offer 
great opportunities when used as a supplement to 
live stock production or dairying. 

The Pinto bean is a safe dry-land crop. It fits into 
the crop rotation, being an especially good crop to 



20 



u 



RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




Drilling wKeat on a large scale in the dry-land section of Eastern Colorado. Note the splendid condition of the seed bed. 
Soils in the eastern part of the State are easily handled 



precede wheat. It prepares the land for fall-sown 
grain and makes a good cash crop. All indications 
point to a more satisfactory market for this crop in 
the future. Pinto bean hay is a valuable feed for live 
stock. 

Fair crops of Pinto beans have been produced on 
sod, and on sandy soil with as low as eleven inches of 
rainfall. On old land, properly prepared, yields of from 
four to six hundred pounds have been produced with 
fourteen inches of rainfall. Every dry-land farmer 
should have at least a small per cent of his cultivated 
land in Pinto beans. It not only insures him a cash 
crop, but also prepares the land for the following crop 
of small grain. It is considered one of the best crops 
to build up the dry-land soil that we have. In ordi- 
nary years from 250 to 600 pounds to the acre can 
be produced when the crop is properly cultivated. 

In regions where wheat cannot be depended on, rye 
is certain, and has the further advantage that it can 
be used either as a cash or forage crop. Fall rye should 
be planted on every dry-land farm. The pasturage 
afforded stock in the fall and spring is very valuable, 
and if the season is not favorable to develop grain, a 
crop of rye hay can at least be counted on. 

Potatoes are a profitable crop in many dry-land 
-actions. They do especially well in the foothills, and 
:n the northeastern part of the State. Yields of be- 



tween 35 and 115 bushels per acre may be expected 
in regions suitable for potato production. Potatoes 
raised under dry-land conditions are sought for 
table stock in market centers, because of their excel- 
lent cooking quality. The greatest possibility in 
potato production on dry lands, however, is in the 
raising of seed. The irrigated regions must import 
most of their seed, and that raised on the dry lands is 
the very best obtainable. 

orage Crops 

Corn is an important forage crop, and does well, in 
practically the entire region. Except in favored locali- 
ties, high yields of grain cannot be expected. Yields of 
forage vary from two tons to six and the grain from ten 
to forty-five bushels. 

Milo maize, kafir corn and feterita are extensively 
raised, especially in the southern regions. In these 
regions they give a better yield of grain and forage 
than does corn. Millet is extensively produced, and 
makes a very sure crop of both forage and grain. 
One to three tons of forage can be expected under or- 
dinary conditions, and from fifteen to forty bushels 
of grain. 

Sudan grass is coming into general use throughout 
the region. It is a heavy yielder of good forage, and a 
very valuable pasture crop. It is usually planted with 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




A dry farm in Eastern Colorado. Four years ago the site upon which this home was built was raw prairie. Note the excellent home garden 
in the foreground, which was produced entirely by tillage and without irrigation. A garden of this kind greatly reduces living expenses 



a press drill on a carefully prepared seed bed similar 
to that for corn, and should be planted about the 
same time as corn. In ordinary seasons from two to 
three tons of hay are secured per acre. 

Alfalfa is successfully produced on the dry lands in 
local areas. Creek bottoms and fields receiving run-off 
water are best suited for it. It does best when planted 
in rows and cultivated. Many dry-land alfalfa fields 
yield as high as two or three tons per acre. The prac- 
tice of producing alfalfa seed on the dry lands by 
growing in rows is increasing. 

Sweet clover has proven very successful for pas- 
turage. It can be grown in practically the entire region 
and each dry-land farm should have a sweet clover 
hog pasture. The Russian sunflower is coming into 
favor, especially as a silage crop. 



surroundings Importan' 
Many dry-land settlers have suffered inconvenience 
through failure to provide proper home surroundings. 
A dry-farm home may be made very attractive by ob- 
taining a good domestic water supply and by pro- 
viding for the irrigation of a small garden tract and 
some trees, both shade and fruit, either through a 
windmill or small pumping plant. In some of the 
better developed dry-land communities there are farm 
homes which for home comforts and conveniences 
rival the best to be found in any section. 



Factors to Be Considered Before 

n I : 

There are several factors which should be considered 
before locating on a dry-land farm in eastern Colorado. 

( 1 ) Since rainfall is the chief limiting factor of pro- 
duction on these plains, the Government weather 
records should be carefully studied before purchasing 
such a farm — not only as to the number of inches of 
rainfall, but as to its distribution. 

(2) The soil must be suited to dry-land farming. 
It must be deep and uniform, it must not be streaked 
with formations of adobe or gumbo, which prevent 
the penetration of moisture, and it must be underlaid 
with a proper subsoil. It cannot be too strongly recom- 
mended that the homeseeker carefully examine the 
soil over the entire farm before he purchases, and, if 
possible, consult the County Agricultural Agent or 
someone else qualified to judge whether it is suited 
for dry farming. 

(3 ) Water supply, especially for domestic purposes, 
should be carefully considered. The usual source of 
water, except in the western portion of the region, is 
wells, and the settler should ascertain the depth at 
which he may expect good water, and the cost of 
getting it. 

(4) Markets and their accessibility may mean the 
difference between success and failure. They should 
be carefully considered in picking a location. 



U. S. RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




The "turkey trot" in Colorado, poultry products bring good prices and a farm flock will provide an immediate cash 

income and supply the table 



(5) Above all comes the personal equation. Per- 
haps you and your family would never be contented on 
a dry-land farm. You must remember you are coming 
to a comparatively new country. Before deciding to 
locate on such a farm, picture a treeless tract of raw 
land which must be transformed into a prosperous 
home. If this pioneering work does not discourage 
you, and you have a vision of a future home, all your 
own, with ever-increasing comforts and possessions — 
the size and amount of which you realize depends on 
your own initiative and industry, and if you have 
sufficient capital to give yourself a fair chance of suc- 
cess, then you are safe in taking the step. 

Picking the Location 

Dry-land farming is similar throughout eastern 
Colorado. Some localities, however, are better suited 
for this type of farming than are others. Some offer 
opportunities along particular lines of agriculture not 
common to the whole region, and some, though not 
best suited to dry farming, offer better opportunities 
to the homeseeker because of less development, and 
consequent lower prices of land. 



In that part of the northeastern Plains Region fall- 
ing within the 15 to 20-inch precipitation belt, viz: 
Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma and Kit Carson counties, 
and a part of Logan, Washington, Lincoln and Chey- 



enne counties, agricultural conditions are very simi- 
lar. In this region dry-farming is highly developed 
and has proved an unqualified success. Cash crops, 
such as beans, potatoes, wheat and rye, do well, and 
the settlers are prosperous almost to a man. Corn does 
exceptionally well in this region. Stock-raising and 
dairying, however, as in all dry-land communities, is 
the balance wheel of all agricultural operations. 

There is still much raw land, in the form of undi- 
vided ranches and holdings of absent land owners, 
which may be purchased at reasonable prices. De- 
veloped farms sell for $35 to $100 an acre, according 
to improvements, while raw land, suitable for tillage, 
may be purchased for $20 to $60 an acre. 

Denver, Pueblo and Colorado Springs offer good 
markets in the West, while Missouri River points are 
easily reached on the east. 

PLAINS OF SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO 

In this division is included that region in the south- 
eastern part of the State which falls in the 15 to 20- 
inch precipitation belt, viz: Baca County, except the 
southeastern corner, the southern portions of Prowers 
and Bent counties, and the eastern and southern 
portions of Las Animas County. 

Dry -land farming in this section is not so highly 
developed as in the northeastern. Conditions are not 
so favorable for cash crops. While the precipitation 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




Six years' progress of an Eastern Colorado farmer. Tfie first home is shown on tha left, while that on the right was built six years 
later and is modern in every way. The trees surrounding the house are five years old 



is about the same, the greater heat of summer and the 
prevalence of drying winds tend to make drouth 
conditions more frequent. All things considered, how- 
ever, great opportunities are offered here for the aver- 
age homeseeker, as land is very much lower in price. 

Stock-raising and dairying are very successful. 
The production of sheep and wool is a large industry 
here. The production of hogs is rapidly increasing. 
Forage craps are certain, and in favorable years good 
cash crops are produced. 

Milo maize, kafir corn, etc., are more successfully 
produced than Indian corn, the long growing season 
being especially favorable for them. Winter rye is a 
paying crop. Good yields of wheat are often obtained. 
Beans are produced in the driest years. 

The wise settler in this region will turn his attention 
to the production of forage for feeding live stock, and 
will make the growing of cash crops supplemental to 
this. 

Raw land, suitable for farming, can be obtained for 
$10 to $30 an acre, while improved farms sell for $20 
to $50 an acre. 

Good markets are offered to the west in Denver, 
Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Trinidad, while to the 
east, Missouri River points are easily accessible. 

PLAINS SECTION EAST OF FOOTHILLS 
REGION 

This region includes that part of eastern Colorado 
falling within the 10 to 15-inch precipitation belt. 



Weld, Morgan, Adams, Arapahoe, Crowley, Kiowa and 
Otero counties, and a part of Larimer, Boulder, 
Logan, Washington, Elbert, Lincoln, Cheyenne, El 
Paso, Pueblo, Brent, Prowers and Las Animas coun- 
ties are included. 

Dry -farming conditions vary widely in this section. 
As the foothills are approached on the west, much of 
the land is rough and unsuited for tillage, but a large 
part of the region is dry-farmed with great success. 

Stock-raising and dairying is successful throughout 
the section. Wheat is grown in many parts, and beans 
are a profitable crop throughout the region. 

Splendid opportunities are offered here for the home- 
maker. Land values have a very wide range. Devel- 
oped dry-land farms may be purchased for $25 to $75 
an acre, while undeveloped land suited for tillage may 
be purchased for $15 to $50 an acre. 

FOOTHILLS REGION 

This is the region embracing the extreme western 
edge of eastern Colorado. Most of Larimer, Boulder, 
Jefferson, Douglas, El Paso and Huerfano counties, 
and a part of Elbert, Pueblo and Las Animas coun- 
ties are included. The rainfall is for the most part 
between 15 and 20 inches. 

Agriculture is varied because of the range in alti- 
tude, which runs between 4,000 and 8,000 feet. Live 
stock production is successful throughout the region, 
especially dairying. Wheat is a safe crop in many 
sections. Potatoes, both eating and seed stock, are an 



24 



U. S. RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




ilS^""^|f|PRi! 




Th2re are almost unlimited opportunities for the man of small means to put land of this kind under the plow in Eastern Colorado. 

This picture is typical of the plains region where approximately seventy per cent of the tillable lands are 

yet in the virgin state. Note the excellent growth of grass on this land 



important crop. There is a great opportunity, espe- 
cially on the Arkansas Divide, which takes in Doug- 
las, southern Elbert and northern El Paso counties, 
for the production of seed potatoes to supply the 
irrigated regions. This divide also offers wonderful 
possibilities for dairying. 

Corn for forage is successfully raised even at an 
altitude of 7,000 feet. Winter rye is a sure forage crop, 
while oats and barley do well in much of the territory. 

Excellent markets are found near at hand in Denver, 
Pueblo, Cheyenne, Colorado Springs, and Trinidad. 



All land not suitable for farming offers grazing 
possibilities. Nearly every settler will wish to set 
apart a portion of his farm for pasturage. Aside from 
these local pastures, however, there are large tracts 
which cannot be successfully cultivated. These offer 
possibilities for stock-raising. In many parts of east- 
ern Colorado there are large areas which will never be 
valuable for agriculture except as grazing lands. How- 
ever, winter grazing is so uncertain, and is attended 
with such danger of loss, that most stockmen are 
beginning to see the necessity of raising some feed, and 
in picking out a grazing ranch, it is desirable there be 
some provision made either for forage production, or 
the buying of it in close proximity. 

Grazing lands may be purchased for $5 to $15 an 
acre. In parts of the Foothills Region grazing privi- 
leges can be secured on the National Forests. 



Available and Classified Land in 
Eastern Colorado 



County 


Esti- 
mated 
Popu- 
lation 

1918 


Ar^a in 
.4cres 


Esti- 
mated 

Agri- 
cultural 

Land 

Non- 
irrigated 


Esti- 
mated 
Irrigated 


Grazing— 

Too 

Rough 

for 
Cultiva- 
tion 


Esti- 
mated 
Acres of 
Arable 

Land 

Un- 
plowed 


Range of 
Altitude 
in Feet 




12,500 
1S.800 
14,600 
■ 8,500 
36,500 
4,500 
7,000 
5,000 
8,500 
50,000 
17,300 
19,000 
6,200 
10,000 
35,000 
41,000 
15,300 
9,000 
14,600 
23.000 
5,000 
15,000 
64,000 
4,200 
9,500 
50,000 
12.000 


807,680 

538,880 

1,633,280 

975,360 

488,960 

1,137,280 

660,800 

540,800 

1,188,480 

1,357,440 

960,000 

536,320 

1,150.720 

1,381,760 

1,184.640 

3,077,760 

1,166,080 

1,644,800 

825,070 

762,080 

440,320 

1,043,200 

1,557,120 

339,840 

1,613,440 

2,574,080 

1,514,880 


428,084 

369,902 

704,428 

6,857 

24,214 

952,806 

6,378 

62,599 

368.'396 

198,250 

3.500 

34,193 


86,594 
37,177 
20,000 
46,559 
82,189 


152,036 
66,383 
8,993 
166,020 
135,029 


300,000 
275,000 
350,000 

750,000 

soo'ooo 

300,000 

500,000 

500,000 

1,000,000 

300,000 

■ MO'OOO 

200,000 
700,000 




.\rapahoe 


4600- 5600 




360O- 5000 


Boulder 

Cheyenne 


4960-14,000 
3875- 4600 


Crowley 

Douglas 

Elbert 


45,399 
7,394 
530 
14,281 
21,633 
40,390 


114,412 
298,093 
614,325 
657,243 
314,706 
223,006 
792,298 
1,124,674 
210,884 
739,429 
330,725 

' 277.924 
159,846 


4100- 4500 
5400- 7600 
4700- 6600 


El Paso 


5000-14.110 


Huerfano 

Jefferson 

Kiowa 


5690-13,000 
5300-10,000 
3500- 4200 


Kit Carson 

Larimer 

Las Animas 


75,807 
8,824 
11,495 
402,022 
1,183.240 
98.212 
19,174 
391,112 

' 65,361 
178,894 
1.023,452 
745,550 
464,500 


450 
48,110 
23.541 
50.930 

/2,555 
76,269 


4100- 4700 
4800-14,000 
5300-14,000 
3600- 4100 


Lincoln 


450O- 5400 
4100- 4600 


Otero 


4000- 5100 


Prowers 

Pueblo 

Sedgwick 

Washington 

Weld 


87,848 
40.379 
20,670 

6.687 
284,687 

2,494 


427,012 
614,350 
82,274 
97,590 
810,906 
13,090,752 


3200- 4000 
4350- 8000 
3400- 3675 
40OO- 4800 
4400- 5000 




800,0003500- 4200 









The above figures were furnished by the Stat€ Immigration Department. For the 
most part they are estimates. All of these counties will support three times aa many 
people as at present. The figures are designed to give a general idea only of the possi- 
bilities for development. 



25 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




Colorado is famous for the production of beet sugar, and the beets grown here have an exceptionally high sugar content, due to the 

excellence of soil and climatic conditions. Yields range from twelve to twenty-two tons per acre 

and the price paid to growers in 1918 was $10 per ton 



JUT ^NTrRlVTOHNTAIN RECiM 

The Intermountain Region includes the principal 
ranges of the Rocky Mountains reaching across the 
central part of Colorado from north to south. 

These parallel ranges form the greatest water shed 
on the American Continent. They gather and hold 
vast accumulations of snow. These banks of snow, 
melting, give rise to mountain streams which carry a 
wealth of irrigation water for agricultural lands 
on the Eastern and Western Slopes. In the Colo- 
rado Rockies are the source waters of four great 
river systems: North and South Platte of the 
Platte-Missouri on the northeast, the Arkansas on the 
southeast, Rio Grande on the south, and the Grand- 
Colorado on the west. The power possibilities from 
these major streams and their many tributaries are 
tremendous. But a small fraction of this latent energy 
is at present utilized. Between the principal ranges 
are many treeless, grassy, plateau valleys. The larger 
of these mountain basins or valleys are called Parks: 
North, Middle, South, Estes, and San Luis. These are 
all comparatively level, surrounded by mountain 
barriers and separated from each other by cross ranges 
of mountains. 

The Cattle Industry in the Parks 

North, Middle and South Parks are simply large 
mountain valleys, each from forty to sixty miles long 



and twenty-five to forty miles wide, having excellent 
water, grass and shelter. For these reasons the cattle 
industry, for many years, has been an important 
business. The elevation runs from 7,700 to nearly 
9,000 feet. Timothy, alsike, red clover, alfalfa, stock 
roots and very fine wheat and oats are grown in both 
North and Middle parks. South Park has a 
superior quality of native grass, that gives the hay 
a high value on Intermountain and Denver mar- 
kets. The large amount of native and tame hay put 
up during the growing season enables stockmen to 
carry their cattle through the winter in fine condition. 
They put many of their beef steers on the market, 
grass-fat in late summer. 

The National Forest areas within and around these 
parks insure good grazing for the herds. School lands 
within these Intermountain Regions are subject to 
lease from the State Land Board for grazing purposes. 
Irrigated lands can be purchased at prices ranging 
from $40 to $80 an acre. Non-irrigated land sells for 
$3.50 to $10 an acre, according to location. This is 
used for grazing principally. 

These parks still have opportunities for cattlemen. 
While beef production will always be the most im- 
portant industry, near-by mining camps afford a 
market for poultry and dairy products, and the small 
ranchmen find a few dairy cows and laying hens sup- 
plement the yearly profits on the ranches. 



LI. S. RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




Colorado is noted for its potaloo'^ ' )n irrigated lands yields of 200 bushels an acre are common: on dry lands, 100 bushels. 
Potatoes grown on dry land make exceptionally good seed and the seed stock finds a ready mirkat 
in the irrigated sections of the State, also in many eastern cities 
San Luis Vallev 



San Luis Valley is the largest of these great Inter- 
mountain Parks. It includes five agricultural counties: 
Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, and Saguache, 
and one county — Mineral — noted more especially for 
its metal mines. San Luis Valley is 120 miles long, and 
from thirty-five to fory miles wide at its central or 
widest portion. It lies in the south central part of the 
State and reaches south to the New Mexico line. Its 
altitude runs from 7,200 feet, in the southern end, to 
8,000 feet, in the northern end of the valley. 

Like the other parks San Luis has high protective 
mountain barriers surrounding it. The valley was a 
fresh-water lake in geologic times. This gives a level - 
ness seldom found, with scarcely a hill throughout the 
valley. The soil is of unusual depth and varies from a 
clay loam in the central portion — the lower level 
of the former lake — to sandy and gravelly loam 
around the more outer edges of the valley. The rain- 
fall is less than ten inches, making dry-farming too 
uncertain to be encouraged. 

Irrigation and Drainage 

The Rio Grande River and its tributary streams 
furnish the irrigation water for the valley. Irrigation 
practice here, as elsewhere, has shown the necessity of 
adequate drainage. After many years' crop farming 
it was found the water table was coming too close to 



the surface of the land in the central or lower portion 
for successful crop farming. These lands went to 
"seep" or became water logged. Several hundred 
thousand acres of the very best lands in the valley 
were thus rendered non-productive. Many thou- 
sand acres of these lands have recently been 
drained by private parties. Su:h beneficial results 
have been shown that a project for the drainage of all 
the rest of these water-logged lands is under con- 
sideration by the U. S. Reclamation Service, the State 
of Colorado and the water users. This area is certain 
to be drained within the next few years. 



The valley contains over five million acres of land. 
Two million acres are in the National Forests, one-half 
million vacant public land and one quarter million 
acres is State land. Besides the water-logged lands, 
there are nearly one-half million acres of cultivated 
crop land "under ditch" not subject to "seep." Water 
is available for much more land so that the present 
area of crop land can be doubled when the reclamation 
work now planned shall have been completed. The 
price of irrigated farm lands ranges from $35 to $150 an 
acre according to location, soil and state of improve- 
ment. 



Field peas are to this valley what corn is to the Corn 
Belt. Barley is often seeded with the peas and the two 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




Oats is an important crop, especially on the irrigated lands where the quality is of the best 
and the yields frequently range above 100 bushels an acre 



cut for silage, or cured and stacked as hay for winter 
feeding. The great majority of the fields are harvested 
by turning in hogs and lambs to feed off the crop. 
Alfalfa furnishes summer pasture for hogs, and hay for 
winter feeding. Two cuttings are obtained per season 
— three to four tons per acre for the season's crop. 
Spring wheat gives yields of thirty-five to fifty bushels 
per acre, and oats with yields of fifty to eighty and 
more bushels per acre, are standard crops. The 
flour mills afford good markets for grain. 

Here is the second largest potato district in the 
State, sending out 2,500 to 3,000 cars of potatoes each 
season. Yields run from 250 to 400 bushels per acre. 
Nearly every crop farmer is a stock feeder. He either 
runs a bunch of hogs, feeds a flock of lambs or runs a 
beef herd. From 100,000 to 125,000 New Mexico 
range lambs are brought in each fall to clean up the 
pea fields. After 90 to 100 days' feed in field and feed 
lot, they are sent finished to Denver and Missouri 
River markets. 

Monte Vista is the agricultural center of the valley. 
Here is a hog growers' association most unique in 
organization, while successful in hog production and 
profitable returns. Two veterinarians employed by 
this association keep down hog diseases and 40,000 
finished hogs are sent each year. Alamosa is the rail- 
road center. From here branch lines run through 
eastern, southern, western and northern sections of 
the valley. 



Twenty-three trade centers are well distributed. 
Two counties — Rio Grande and Saguache — - have 
Farm Bureaus and employ County Agricultural 
Agents. The other counties plan to organize farm 
bureaus soon. Aggressive farmers who will develop 
the agricultural resources of the San Luis will be 
welcomed and given a chance to make good. 
Upper Arkansas Valley 

The valley of the upper Arkansas River is along the 
headwaters of the streams in Lake and Chaffee counties. 
Near Buena Vista the valley is eight to ten miles wide. 
Here wheat, oats, barley, peas, potatoes, timothy and 
alfalfa have been grown for many years. In this section 
may be found a considerable acreage of State and 
private lands for which water for irrigation is being 
made available. Several thousand acres await develop- 
ment by settlers. Near-by mining camps offer attrac- 
tive local markets for food commodities. Prices of 
lands with a good water right range from $45 to $90 an 

acre. , ,^. 

;ale Districts 

The Eagle River Valley, in Eagle County, the Roar- 
ing Fork and Crystal River Valley, in Pitkin and 
eastern part of Garfield counties, are two well-known 
potato districts of the State. A Rocky Mountain red 
loam soil, found in both valleys, is peculiarly adapted 
to the growing of high quality potatoes. Yields are 
seldom less than 250 and often run above 400 bushels 
per acre. Two cuttings of alfalfa are obtained per 



28 



U. S. RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




Dry-land wheat produced on valley land in the Foothills Yields range from fifteen to forty bushels an acre Small ranches in the foothills 
sections may be secured with grazing privileges in the near-by hills 



season, with a total yield of three to four tons per acre. 
Thirty-five to fifty-bushel wheat, and seventy-five to 
ninety-bushel oats per acre are grown in these valleys. 

The Carbondale District, in Roaring Fork Crystal 
River Valley, has a creamery which encourages dairy- 
ing, giving a home market for butter fat. In Eagle 
Valley are registered Herefords of superior quality. 
The raising of beef cattle is an important industry. 
Irrigated land sells for $40 to $150 an acre, according 
to location and improvements. A considerable area 
is yet to be improved and settled up. 

The Upper Gunnison Valley 

Gunnison County is noted for its native hay and 
stock ranches. Ranch propositions of value are yet 
obtainable here where small grain, alfalfa and stock 
roots can always be grown. Gunnison, the county 
seat town, is the railroad center, with branch lines 
to coal camps on the north, SaUda on the east and 
Montrose on the west. 

There are many protected valleys beyond the num- 
ber named, that have real opportunities awaiting 
crop and live stock farmers. Thirteen million acres of 
the Intermountain Region of the State is taken up 
with mountain ranges. Between these ranges lie fif- 
teen million acres of park and valley lands that have 
economic value for stockmen and farmers. Within 
this Intermountain Region lie the great mineral dis- 
tricts of the State, which yield in metals over forty 



million dollars annually, and upwards of twelve mil- 
lion tons of coal. These mining interests give employ- 
ment to some fifty thousand workmen and their 
families. This furnishes a local market for near-by 
farming regions. Mountain farm dairies have a 
market all their own. 

Telephones and rural delivery reach the farm 
settlements. Every farm settlement has its public 
school. A mountain ranch in this environment 
does not mean isolation, for 9,000 miles of auto roads 
have been built in this region for general vehicle travel, 
and nearly every county has railway connection with 
the outside world. 

Expensive trips for recreation are not necessary, for 
these mountain ranches are located within the "Play- 
ground of America." Game in the mountains, trout 
in the streams and lakes of this region, awaken hunting 
and fishing desires in young and old. With such hunt- 
ing, fishing, camping, outdoor life privileges, amid 
surroundings noted for its scenic beauty, Colorado's 
Intermountain Region bids a western welcome and 
invites the homeseeker to its pleasing environment. 

WESTERN SLOPE DISTRICTS 

The part of Colorado which lies west of the Rockies, 
from Routt and Moffat counties on the north to 
Montezuma on the south, is commonly called the 
Western Slope. The contour of the region is more 
broken and undulating than the Eastern Slope. The 



COLORADO- AN UNDEVELOPED EMFIKL 




The producing sections of Col 



Ths stats has many miles of railroads, 
Icets 



farming lands are in the valleys of rivers or on broad 
mesas that are found near the river valleys. The 
Western Slope is divided into three sections. The 
White and Yampa rivers carry the waters of North- 
western Colorado to the Green river. The Grand 
River receives the waters of the central west, while 
the streams of southwestern Colorado are tributaries 
of the San Juan River. Southwestern Colorado is 
frequently spoken of as a part of the San Juan Basin. 

ORTHWESTERN COl.ORAD 

This portion of the Western Slope comprises the 
counties of Routt, Moffat, and Rio Blanco. North- 
west Colorado is broken and uneven in its surface, 
but its plateau mesas and river valleys have large 
areas of good farming lands. The soil varies from 
sandy and clay loams to heavy clay loam or adobe 
that is rich in plant food. While something over 
eighty thousand acres has been irrigated, water is 
available for irrigating many times this amount of land. 

Within this section are many thousand acres of 
State lands and more than three million acres of 
Government land that is not taken up. Because 
of the winter snows in northwest Colorado, much of 
this land can be made productive under dry-farming 
methods. Perhaps no section of the State has such 
large bodies of land awaiting settlers to develop it. 
The last report of the State Immigration Commission 
shows over forty thousand acres under crop produc- 
tion without irrigation in northwest Colorado. Irri- 



gated land is valued at $25 to $150 an acre, according 
to location, while non-irrigated crop land runs from 
$7.50 to $25. 

The rainfall varies from thirteen to twenty inches. 
Crops are: rye, wheat, oats, and barley, alsike, red 
clover, alfalfa, timothy, native hay, potatoes, and 
vegetables. Because of its grass production, and large 
grazing areas, stock-raising is the chief business in 
northwest Colorado. Irrigated meadow lands in the 
river valleys furnish the hay to feed the stock through 
the winter. Amount of hay and winter forage which 
can be grown for winter feeding determines the 
amount of cattle or sheep which can be run on the 
range. 

A wealth of coal, unsurpassed in the State, is in 
this section. Such natural resources here exist 
that transportation and market facilities seem 
certain to be afforded these producing districts in the 
near future. Northwest Colorado has much to offer 
home settlers in virgin lands capable of successful dry 
farming, as well as lands which may be irrigated. 
There are also areas where lands are irrigated all 
ready for crop production. Rural delivery, telephones, 
schools and churches in the settled districts, with 
State roads connecting settlements, are found here. 



This section of the Western Slope includes the coun- 
ties of Garfield, Mesa, Delta, San Miguel and Mont- 



30 



U. S. RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




iUng fr 



Western slope district. Such lands are valued at $500 to $1000 an acre 



rose. The agricultural lands lie in varying altitudes 
from 8,000 feet, on the east, to 4,500 feet, at lowest 
portion of the river valleys on the west. This gives 
gradual crop zones, where^ under irrigation, are pro- 
duced commercial crops varying from small grain, 
potatoes, and alfalfa to peaches, pears, sugar beets, 
onions, and corn. 

Grand Valley and Montrose — Delta County — 
peaches, pears, and apples are well known on the 
market. Fruit associations have been formed for the 
better handling and marketing of the crop. Cream- 
eries have been established in this section, making 
dairying an important industry, since there is a home 
market for all butter fat produced. Vast quantities 
of oil shale in the buttes of the Grand Valley, below 
De Beque, coal deposits in various parts of the district 
and the carnotite (radium is obtained from carnotite) 
ore beds, in western part of Montrose County, give 
mining interests that are of growing importance and 
value to the agricultural activities of this section. 
Sugar beet factories at Grand Junction and Delta 
have encouraged a considerable acreage of sugar beets. 
This crop being under contract, it is really marketed 
before it is planted. Corn is becoming an important 
crop in this section. The Olathe District holds 
annual corn shows, and these stimulate the use of 
better seed, with the result of increased crop returns. 

Settlers on Redlands Mesa, in Grand Valley, have 
accHmated a strain of Iowa Silver Mine Corn, known 
locally as "Diamond Joe," and use it as a standard 
crop. Through careful selection these corn farmers are 



obtaining on their irrigated lands yields of 60, 75 and, 
in a few instances, 80 bushels per acre. Corn farmers 
in the Olathe District (lower Gunnison Valley) have 
developed a yellow dent strain of corn to yields of 50 
to 70 bushels per acre. On high mesa lands, where 
corn will not mature, Russian sunflowers are being 
grown for a silage crop. 

Two U. S. Reclamation Projects are within this 
section. Home-makers will find the reports issued by 
the Reclamation Service on these projects of inter- 
est and value. Detailed information about all U 
S. Reclamation projects in Colorado can be secured 
by addressing F. E. Weymouth, U. S. Reclamation 
Service, Denver, Colo. 



Surrounding the towns of Montrose and Olathe, in 
Montrose County, and Delta, in Delta County, on the 
Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains, lie 100,000 
acres of rich bottom and mesa lands comprising the 
Uncompahgre Valley Project, the Project office being 
at Montrose. Works for the delivery of water to the 
entire area are practically complete. There are 75,971 
acres of deeded land and 24,029 acres of public land, of 
which 19,594 acres, contained in 393 farm units, have 
been entered. Twenty-six hundred and sixty-three 
acres of irrigable land, contained in 64 units, are open 
to entry, and 1,772 acres are withheld from entry. 
The farms vary in size from 40 to 80 acres. About 
forty thousand acres of mesa soil are suitable for 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




A typical irrigation canal. There are thousands of miles of such canals in Colorado and additional 
thousands of rniles are to be constructed 



raising apples, pears, peaches, prunes and small fruits. 
The heavier soils are especially well adapted to the 
raising of sugar beets and wheat. The entire area is 
adapted to alfalfa, wheat and oats and considerable 
areas to the raising of potatoes and onions. The range 
in soil, from heavy adobe to light, sandy loam makes 
possible a wide range of profitable crops. 

The irrigable land lies between the elevations of 
5,000 to 6,400 feet above sea level. The temperature 
ranges from 20° below to 98° above zero, but zero 
temperatures are very unusual. The rainfall on the 
irrigable land is six to twelve inches. 

We Grand Valley Project 
Is located in the Plateau Region on the Western 
Slope of the Rocky Mountains in west central Colo- 
rado, the Project office being located at Grand Junc- 
tion. The irrigable area of the Grand Valley Project 
includes 50,000 acres of land. 

The average elevation of the Project is 4,700 feet 
above sea level. The climate is mild, with a large 
percentage of sunshine and long growing season. 
Oppressive heat is unknown. Zero temperatures are 
very unusual and are generally accompanied by calm 



weather. Owing to the protection of high mountains 
and sheltering plateaus, the valley is not subject to 
severe storms of any kind. 

The irrigation works have been completed far enough 
to furnish a dependable water supply at the beginning 
of the season of 1919, for 30,000 acres of land. Approx- 
imately 50% of this acreage is embraced in farms now 
under cultivation, and the remainder is made up of 
about 10,000 acres of deeded land and 5,000 acres of 
vacant public land. Of the latter class of land, 1,500 
acres was open to entry on January 1, 1919, and the 
balance will probably be opened within the next year. 

The principal crops produced on the Project are 
alfalfa, wheat, oats, sugar beets, corn, potatoes, fruit 
and vegetables. The soil consists of three general 
types: red sandy mesas, sandy loam and adobe. The 
red soils are deep and well drained and especially 
adapted to the growing of fruits, for which the valley 
is already justly famous, and also to alfalfa, corn, and 
potatoes. The sandy loam is an alluvial soil, very 
fertile and adapted to the growing of practically all 
kinds of crops, while the adobe soils are of a heavier 
nature and are especially adapted for sugar beets and 
cereals. 



32 



U. S. RAI LROAD ADMINISTRATION 




fruit valley of the 



stern slope district. Commercial orchards are common in this part of the State. Home orchards do well in all 
parts and help to reduce living expenses 



The principal railroad shipping points are Grand 
Junction, Fruita, Loma, Mack, Palisade and Clifton. 
All are adjacent to or on the Project. The sugar factory 
at Grand Junction furnishes a market for all sugar 
beets grown on the Project, and the local flour mill for 
wheat and other cereals, while the local canneries 
handle each year a large quantity of tomatoes, fruits 
and vegetables. The marketing of the fruit crop is 
handled largely through co-operative associations. The 
educational facilities are excellent on account of the 
proximity of the project to the old settled-up district. 

Besides the Government Project, private interests 
own general crop and fruit lands within the valley on 
both sides of the Grand River, from Antlers, Silt, and 
Rifle to west end of the valley. Here is the largest 
fruit valley in Colorado with 16,000 acres in apples, 
pears, and peaches. Eighty-four thousand acres of 
general crop land is irrigated. Settlers are offered 
sagebrush land or cleared and cultivated land at prices 
ranging from $45 to $250 an acre, according to location, 
type of soil, and improvements. 

OTHER VALLEY AND MESA LANDS 
North of the Uncompahgre Government Project 
are the North Fork Valley lands, in Delta County. 



Here are the Paonia, Hotchkiss, Cedar-Edge and 
Austin District lands. Settlers will find in these dis- 
tricts choice fruit, general farming, and dairy farm 
propositions. Hog-raising is becoming an important 
industry. Prices for lands are somewhat lower than 
prevailing prices in the Grand Valley. 

In West Montrose County, away from the railroad, 
are the Nucla, Naturita, and Paradox Valley settle- 
ments. Here are grown more cuttings of alfalfa per 
season than anywhere else on the Western Slope, 
because of the lower altitude and the longer season. 
Distance from the railroad does not make it advisable 
to grow the fruit, truck and grain crops, soil and 
climate make possible. Because of the open winters, 
settlers in Paradox Valley find a market at good 
prices for all the alfalfa, corn and other feed crops 
they grow with the cattlemen who bring their stock 
to winter in the valley. 

What Central Western Colorado Has to Offer 
This Central West District has such diversified 

farming interests that it gives a settler an opportunity 
to select his home where he can follow that type of 
farming he shall prefer and can most enjoy. Special 
seed farmers are here growing peas, beans, onion seed. 



33 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRE 




The Colorado farmer can avail himself of many opportunities for recreation. Both fishing and hunting are excellent 

and within reach of every settler 



etc., under contract for seed firms. The near-by 
National Forests, with their grazing privileges under 
purchased permit, together with large areas of unoc- 
cupied land in "The Hills," emphasize and encourage 
the live stock industry on the higher lands "under 
ditch" in the Central Western District. 



The Southwestern portion of the State is often 
called the San Juan Basin, since all the streams are 
tributaries of the San Juan River. It includes the 
counties of Archuleta, La Plata and Montezuma. 
Here, in sight of the Mesa Verde National Park — 
home of the cliff dwellers — is th? oldest farming district 
in the Rockies. It was farmed centuries ago by tribes 
of men now extinct. 

'ural Contour 
The watersheds of this district are the San Juan and 
La Plata mountains. Their run-off flows into the San 
Juan Basin streams, which find their way into the San 
Juan River. Tributary streams divide the country 
into mesas varying from a few thousand to fifty 
thousand acres in one mesa plain. These mesas, or 
level plateaus, are comparatively uniform, separated 
by deep arroyos, or canon-like breaks. Where not 



already farmed, these mesas are covered either with 
black sagebrush, or thickets of cedar, pinon or scrub 
oak brush. 

Over this whole region is a good agricultural soil 
varying from a sandy loam to an ashy clay. Arroyos 
(breaks or cuts) show these soils to be many feet deep 
and of uniform texture. In the higher altitudes, 8,000 
feet and above, are areas with sheltering trees and a 
wealth of grass, making them well adapted for grazing 
purposes. Because of the extent of these areas and the 
nearness of National Forest Lands, stock-raising is 
now and will continue to be a leading industry. 

The agricultural lands are below 7,000 feet eleva- 
tion, situated on Fort Lewis Mesa, in Las Animas 
Valley, Pine Valley, in La Plata County, Florida, 
and other mesas of 15,000 to 20,000 acres each of 
tillable lands. Montezuma Valley, in county of same 
name, has an area of 300 square miles. Here are 
grown both winter and spring wheat, oats, barley, 
alfalfa, and forage crops, equal in quality and yield to 
that produced in other parts of the State. Parts of 
Montezuma and Las Animas valleys grow both bush 
and tree fruits, supplying the local markets with 
apples, cherries, and berries. There are now in San 



U. S. RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 




Grand Valley Project. Gates in Grand River Dam turning the water into the high line canal. U. S. Reclamation Servi( 



Juan Basin 100,000 acres of crop land irrigated. Prices- 
range from $30 to $125 an acre, according to loca- 
tion and character of improvements. The State Immi- 
gration Commissioner affirms more than a million 
acres of undeveloped agricultural land awaits settle- 
ment in this basin district. 

Here is a most pleasing environment. It is near the 
greatest mining center in the State — the San Juan 
group mines. Coal and firewood, fence posts, and 
poles are obtainable in all agricultural districts. Dur- 
ango is the railroad center, with branch lines of rail- 
road in four directions, giving shipping facilities. 
Cortez, Mancos, Dolores, Bayfield, Ignacio, and 
Pagosa Springs are important trade centers. Home- 
stead, State land, private owned sage brush or irri- 
gated improved land, can be obtained in the San 
Juan Basin. 

Progressive men, looking for a new home, will bear 
in mind the important fact that Colorado is not a ONE- 
crop State ; that it produces a great diversity of crops ; 
that climatic conditions are, on the whole, excellent; 
that opportunitiesin the United States are 
not excelled in any country in the world. 

Colorado offers special opportunities that you, for 
your own best interests, should investigate. 



Vacation Outings 

in the 

National Parks 

"The Nation's Playgrounds" 

Your National Parks are a vast region of geysers, 
peaks, canyons, glaciers, big trees, volcanoes, pre- 
historic ruins and other natural scenic wonders. 

fS'T THEM THIS SUMMER 

for fishing, mountain climbing and "roughing it." 

Ask for descriptive illustrated booklet of the 
National Park or National Monument you are 
specially interested in — here is the list: Crater Lake, 
Ore.; Glacier, Mont.; Grand Canyon, Ariz.; Hawaii; 
Hot Springs, Ark.; Mesa Verde, Colo.; Mt. Rainier, 
Wash.; Petrified Forest, Ariz.; Rocky Mountain, 
Colo. ; Sequoia, Cal. ; Yellowstone, Wyo.-Mont. ; Yose- 
mite. Cal., and Zion, Utah. 

Address 

Travel Bureau, U. S. Railroad Administration, 

646 Transportation Bldg., Chicago, III., or 

143 Liberty St., New York City, or 

602 Healey Bldg., Atlanta, Ga. 



COLORADO-AN UNDEVELOPED EMPIRr. 





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Colorado is noted for its production of feeder lambs. The San Luis Valley is famous for its pea fed mutton. 
Sheep production is especially important in the foothill regions where excellent grazing lands are available 

ISSUED BY 

United States Railroad Administration 
AGRICULTURAL SECTION 

J. L. EDWARDS, Manager 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 

FOR THE USE OF ALL RAILROADS 
IN THE STATE OF COLORADO 

For Further Information, address 



H. A. JOHNSON, 
Traffic MANAGtR C. & S. R* R» 
Denver, 

P.nt O. 



POOLE BROS., CHICAGO 




003 006 209 1 M j\ 



